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Agence France-Presse

World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka said on Wednesday that she believes her rivalry with top-ranked Iga Swiatek is “much needed” in women’s tennis.
The Belarusian advanced to the Wuhan Open third round with her 50th victory of the season, 6-4, 6-4 against Katerina Siniakova.
Swiatek is absent from the field in Wuhan and withdrew from the China swing after splitting with her coach of three years Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Sabalenka has a chance to close the gap on the Polish world No 1 with a strong run in Wuhan, with the battle for the top spot likely to come down to the wire at the season-ending championships in Riyadh next month.

“Having this rivalry with Iga is something big for tennis and something much needed, I would say, in women’s tennis.
“To keep this competition going would be really good for tennis,” said Sabalenka, who will next face Yulia Putintseva in the last 16.
Sabalenka, 26, spent eight weeks at the summit of the rankings last season and said reclaiming the world No 1 spot was one of her biggest goals.
“I hope she’ll figure out the coach situation and she’ll be back in the finals in her best shape.
“Hopefully we can play against each other there in … a fight for world No 1.”
Coco Gauff followed up her China Open title in Beijing on Sunday with a smooth 6-1, 6-2 win over Viktoriya Tomova.

Gauff has a seven-match win streak and faces 13th seed Marta Kostyuk in the last 16.
Kostyuk received a walkover after her opponent Amanda Anisimova withdrew with a left hip injury.
“Both mentally and physically I’m a little tired, if I’m being honest,” said Gauff. “But when I got on the court, I felt fine.
“How I approached Beijing, I was like, I want to approach this how I would play tennis as a kid.
“Sometimes I try to go back into that mindset and realise at the end of the day this is my dream now, and it was my dream as a kid.
“If I don’t want to do it for myself now, I can definitely do it for myself then.”

In a late match, China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, the fifth seed, beat Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-2, 6-4. She will meet Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, a former US Open finalist, in the next round.
Zheng’s victory boosts her qualification chances for the WTA Finals in Riyadh as she tries to become the first Chinese player since Li Na in 2013 to reach the season-ending championships.
Earlier, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova crashed out to American qualifier and world No 102 Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 7-5 in just 94 minutes.
Seventh-seeded Krejcikova let a 3-1 lead slip in the opening set, as well as a 5-3 advantage in the second.
The 22-year-old Baptiste will next take on Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova for a place in the quarter-finals.


Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open: Shnaider blitzes Boulter to claim title in one-sided final

Hong Kong Open: Shnaider dumps defending champ Fernandez out, to face Boulter in final

Hong Kong Open: China’s Yuan ends Kenin’s late-season surge, Fernandez into final four

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open: rejuvenated major champ Sofia Kenin on Victoria Park roll

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Wuhan Open: Aryna Sabalenka relishes ‘much-needed’ rivalry with Iga Swiatek, Zheng through

Aryna Sabalenka hits a return during her round of 32 win over Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic at the Wuhan Open. Photo: Xinhua

Poland’s Iga Swiatek missed the China swing after splitting with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. Photo: AP

Coco Gauff followed up her China Open title with a comfortable win over Viktoriya Tomova. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Zheng Qinwen reacts during her win against Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian. Photo: AFP

China Open: Zheng Qinwen loses in semis after Alcaraz silences Shang in Shanghai Masters

Zheng Qinwen takes a tumble during her semi-final with Karolina Muchova. Photo: Reuters

Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova celebrates winning her semi-final against Zheng Qinwen. Photo: Reuters

Jerry Shang hits a return to Carlos Alcaraz during their match at the Shanghai Masters. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong can’t host top-level tennis unless it revamps Victoria Park: sport’s local chief

The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 takes place at Victoria Park last week. Photo: May Tse

Leylah Fernandez lifts her trophy after winning last year’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: AFP

Simona Halep, pictured at an autograph session, expressed a positive view of Victoria Park. Photo: HKCTA

China Open final: Coco Gauff beats Muchova, achieves feat not seen since 1968

Coco Gauff celebrates with the trophy after defeating Karolina Muchova in Beijing. Photo: AP

Coco Gauff is elated after completing her straight-sets victory on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s tennis players told to get fitter and compete in more tournaments

Cody Wong, one of Hong Kong’s top players, has played only 51 singles matches this year, compared with 80-100 played by the best players. Photo: HKCTA

Local tennis chief Michael Cheng says Hong Kong has to find ways to make the sport more “accessible” to players.

China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen developed her game at WTA 125 events, Michael Cheng said. Photo: Xinhua

Navarro, Halep win in Hong Kong, Sabalenka continues hot streak at China Open in Beijing

Emma Navarro on her way to victory over Viktorija Golubic in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: Clicks Images

Aryna Sabalenka takes selfies with fans after her win. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Tennis

The Belarusian has a chance to close the gap on the Polish world No 1 in Wuhan, with the battle for top spot likely to be settled in Riyadh


The Belarusian has a chance to close the gap on the Polish world No 1 in Wuhan, with the battle for top spot likely to be settled in Riyadh.
